Platform for corn-harvesters.



T. O. THURSTON.

PLATFORM FOR CORN HABVESTERS.

APPLICATION FILED M41115, 1911.

Patented Dec. 12, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

' Womw COLUMBIA PMNDGRAPH COHWASBINOTON. D. c.

T. 0. THURSTON.

PLATPORMFOR 001m HARVESTBES.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 25, 1911.

Patented Dec. 12,1911.

2 SHHETSSH'EET 2.

LULUMBIA PLANOGRAPM c0., WASHINGTO D. C

UNITED STATES ATEN T OFFICE.

THOMAS O. THURSTON, OF MANCHESTER, VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO E. C. BELLWOOD, OF MANCHESTER, VIRGINIA.

PLATFORM FOR CORN-HARVESTERS.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, THOMAS O. THURS- TON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Manchester, in the county of Chesterfield and State of Virginia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Platforms for Corn-Harvesters, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to platforms for that class of corn harvesters which include a platform mounted upon wheels to enable it to be drawn over the field, said platform being provided with cutting devices for severing the stalks.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a platform of simple, etlicient and inexpensive construction which may be readily mounted upon the wheels and front axle of an ordinary wagon running gear, thus utilizing such wheels and axle to support the platform, and enabling the necessary parts constituting the corn harvester to be supplied at a moderate expense, thereby saving initial expense to the farmer, and economizing in storage space.

Vith this and other ends in view which will readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the improved construction and novel arrangement and combination of parts which will be hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims. In the accompanying drawings has been illustrated a simple and preferred form of the invention, it being, however, understood that no limitation is necessarily made to the precise structural details therein exhibited, but that changes, alterations and modifications within the scope of the claims may be resorted to when desired.

In the drawings,Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved platform. Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 33 in Fig. 4 and looking in a forward direction. Fig. 4 is a side elevation showing the plat form mounted upon the wheels and front axle of an ordinary wagon running gear, the near front wheel having been removed.

Corresponding parts in the several figures are denoted by like characters of reference.

The improved platform includes a plurality of longitudinal supporting bars or beams, preferably three in number, as shown at 10, 10, 11 upon which the flooring Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 25, 1911.

Patented Dec. 12, 1911. Serial No. 616,915.

12 is suitably secured. The middle beam 11 is extended forwardly of the side beams and of the flooring to form a reach member 13. The longitudinal beams 10, 10, 11 are securely bolted upon the underside of the hind axle 1% which is equipped with spindles 15 for the reception of wheels 16, as seen in Fig. 4. The axle 14 is of a length equal to the extreme width of the flooring 12, but said flooring is provided adjacent to the rear corners thereof with recesses 17 to accommodate the wheels, which latter will thus be accommodated within the limits of the extreme width of the flooring.

Arched beams 18, the rear ends of which are connected with the forward ends of the longitudinal bars 10 beneath the front end of the flooring are connected at their forward extremities with a bolster 19 which is positioned above and suitablyspaced from the forward end of the reach member 13 formed by the projecting front portion of the bar 11. The arches 18, which are preferably formed of angle steel to insure lightness and strength, also serve to supporta seat bar 20.

The platform is provided adjacent to the recesses 17 with uprights 21 connected in pairs by longitudinal rails 22 and braces 23 to form a cradle for the reception of cut corn. The front corners of the flooring of the platform may be slightly beveled, as indicated at 24:, and adjacent the said front corners suitable cutting apparatus is to be suitably mounted. Said cutting apparatus, however, does not form part of the present invention, and it has, therefore, been deemed unnecessary to illustrate the same.

The improved harvester platform may be very quickly and conveniently mounted for use upon the hind wheels 16 and front axle 25 having wheels 26 of an ordinary wagon running gear, the axle being introduced between the bolster l9 and the front end of the reach member 13 where it is secured by means of the king bolt 27. The front wheels may readily swing beneath the arch members 18, thus enabling the machine to be readily guided and to be turned in a relatively short space. Again, in turning the machine, the front wheels will engage or abut upon the projecting reach member 13, which latter thus constitutes a guard to prevent the wheels from swinging too far beneath the arches, thereby making it impossible for the horses to move into contact with the cutting apparatus carried at the front corners of the platform. This is regarded as an important and valuable safeguard.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings hereto annexed, the operation and advantages of this invention will be readily understood. The improved harvester platform is capable of being manufactured and marketed at a very moderate expense. The construction is strong and durable, and storage room may be greatly economized as compared with that required for a complete harvester.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, is

1. A platform for corn harvesters comprising a hind axle, longitudinal beams associated therewith and including a center beam which is extended forwardly to con stitute a reach member, flooring supported upon the beams, arch members extending forwardly from some of the beams, and a bolster supported by the arch members, said I bolster being positioned above and spaced from the front end of the reach member.

2. A platform for corn harvesters comprising a plurality of longitudinal beams and flooring supported thereon, said floor- 30 ing being provided with recesses adjacent to the rear corners for the accommodation of supporting wheels, and an axle associated with the beams and having spindles positioned intermediate the front and rear 3 ends of the recesses, said axle inclusive of the spindles being of an extreme length approximately equal to the extreme width of the flooring; said platform being provided adjacent to the front and rear ends of the 0 THOMAS O. THURSTON.

Witnesses 7M. BAGGER, BENNETT S. JONES.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

